Issue 06-01-2015

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Boosting its services for the burgeoning senior market, CVS Health has agreed to acquire Omnicare — the nation’s largest provider of pharmaceutical services to long-term care facilities — for $12.7 billion. With the acquisition, which includes $2.3 billion in debt, CVS Health will significantly expand its ability to dispense prescriptions in assisted

BOISE, Idaho — Mark Panzer has been named senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons LLC. Between Albertsons and Safeway stores, the company has 1,760 pharmacies in 34 states. Panzer, who had been president and chief executive officer of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc., replaces Darren Singer, who has left ­Albertsons. The appointment

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A law described as the first of its kind in the nation to require health insurance carriers to include pharmacists as network providers has been signed by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. The landmark law, ESSB 5557, was sponsored by Sen. Linda Parlette, who is also a registered pharmacist. Until now, health insurance

DUBLIN, Ohio — Another pharmaceutical chain has followed CVS Health and a host of other businesses — and even cities — in going smoke free. Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) and its Medicap Pharmacy units, which have more than 500 locations across the country and 200 pharmacies internationally, will no longer sell tobacco products —

QUEBEC CITY — Collaboration is the key to unlocking business growth opportunities for neighborhood pharmacies, according to Denise Carpenter, president and chief executive officer of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada. She made her remarks at the organization’s 2015 annual conference here last month. “While it’s tempting to say that retail pharmacy is facing more

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has launched an integrated marketing campaign to support its new wellness+ with Plenti loyalty program. Created by Rite Aid’s longtime agency partner MARC USA, the campaign is meant to show how consumers can benefit from the way that Rite Aid has married its own wellness+ program with Plenti,

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer Inc. has signed a deal to acquire the specialty pharmacy and health services company Aureus Health Services Inc. The deal will allow the retailer to improve the customer offerings at its 217 supercenters and grocery stores in the Midwest, all of which have pharmacies. “The ability to provide specialty pharmacy

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy announced a promotion running from May 24 through June 20 that presents holders of the company’s ExtraCare loyalty card with the opportunity to receive a $10 CVSCash Card after spending $30 on an assortment of items found in the retailer’s weekly circular. The promotion offers cardholders a way to receive additional

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. and the National Urban League have brought back the Walgreens Wellness Tour for its ninth year. The two have joined together for this community outreach program that is dedicated to providing free preventative and early detection health services to urban and at-risk communities across the country. Through November, Walgreens will

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Infusion Services is now Option Care, an independent company and brand, though Walgreens has retained “significant” minority ownership. Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), a private equity firm based in Chicago, now owns the lion’s share of the new infusion services provider. Paul Mastrapa, chief executive officer of Option Care and the former

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) says it exceeded its initial goal of raising $5 million in support of the Red Nose Day campaign to raise money for children and young people living in poverty. As of Red Nose Day, WBA had raised $7 million, according to Linn Jordan, director of marketing, strategy

ARLINGTON, Va. — Deepti Loharikar, a public health policy expert, has joined the National Association of Chain Drug Stores as director of federal and state public policy. She reports to Kevin Nicholson, vice president of public affairs and regulatory affairs. In her role at NACDS, Loharikar will provide policy expertise on pharmacy issues at the

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. is rebuilding its Baltimore drug store that was damaged in April during civil unrest following the death of an African-American resident from injuries sustained during his arrest by police. The Rite Aid store at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. was one of eight Rite Aid outlets in

The fiscal first quarter of 2015 is in the books for many of the largest retailers, and the results tend to bear out the idea that the current year will be one of struggle and uncertainty despite signs that the economy is rebounding from the recession that plagued it so sorely in recent years. The